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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

School celebrated a Muslim LGBT activist on International Women’s day!

423 replies

Threemangoes · 09/03/2023 00:06

AIBU to be annoyed at the school? I’m baffled as why have the school missed an opportunity here. They already celebrate lgbt history month and then pride in June at school.

Why is this issue that affects a very tiny minority is so heavily influenced in children’s curriculum?

OP posts:
PriOn1 · 09/03/2023 03:17

Is it that you would have liked them to highlight a straightforwardly feminist issue, OP? One that only affects women? I can see that point of view easily. LGBT campaigning is not feminist as it involves both sexes. There are lots of issues affecting only women. Why not choose one of them?

ootb · 09/03/2023 03:43

PriOn1 · 09/03/2023 03:17

Is it that you would have liked them to highlight a straightforwardly feminist issue, OP? One that only affects women? I can see that point of view easily. LGBT campaigning is not feminist as it involves both sexes. There are lots of issues affecting only women. Why not choose one of them?

I actually think the lesbian dimension might be a bit of a red herring. If it were one of the historical first white female campaigners for LGBT issues in the UK, that might have been more acceptable in OP's mind (as well as for others on here) as a "prominent woman" in any field.

After all, think of most women featured on IWD. Issues like breaking barriers in technology, literature and the arts, the political sphere, etc are not necessarily exclusive to women. Lack of diversity in tech/arts/politics is faced by different racial and socioeconomic groups as well. But these women are celebrated because they happen to be female, and so are role models for women.

Anyway, I think OP's post might refer to Saima Razzaq. Just because she's a Muslim woman doesn't mean she only campaigns for rights for Muslim women! She's a prominent LGBT campaigner, former BBC producer, social enterprise (not LGBT focused) founder, among many other things – she's quite a force of nature, and good for girls/women of any race to look up to IMO.

Quent · 09/03/2023 04:15

Because Pride and LGBT history month are already given airtime in the school, teaching the children about a person who is LGBT at any other time is too much emphasis on LGBT issues? Come on...

Seriously, the children will be taught about heterosexual people or about people generally with no reference to their sexuality countless times throughout the school year - many, many, many more times than they will be taught about LGBT activists specifically.

I also find it hard to believe that this woman was the only woman being celebrated on International Women's Day

MajorCarolDanvers · 09/03/2023 04:19

Threemangoes · 09/03/2023 00:13

She is a biologically born woman. I believe.

In which case what's the problem.

IWD is for all women. Not just white Christian ones.

MajorCarolDanvers · 09/03/2023 04:22

Threemangoes · 09/03/2023 00:52

Annddd breathe dear.
Is it actually wrong to celebrate a woman not on the basis of her sexuality but the difference she has made in the world???
Like I said they already celebrate lgbt history month and pride!!
This is primary school curriculum we are talking about.

With each post you sound more homophobic than they last.

itsgettingweird · 09/03/2023 04:28

School for it right imo.

Rather than go for an obvious well known woman or your stereotypical white straight woman - they've picked someone different who is an activist and wouldn't have been able to be so easily sue to religion.

It's why people like Rosa Parks are so well remembered and celebrated. Not so much their activism but what their activism meant within society.

MeganTheeScallion · 09/03/2023 04:28

But when is it International Straight White Non-Muslim Women's Day??? I demand representation! Harrumph!

Mutabiliss · 09/03/2023 04:29

Did you really think Mumsnet would agree with you, OP? I can't imagine why you have a problem with IWD celebrating a woman, regardless of her sexuality or religion.

It's lovely that gay children grow up knowing there are people like them now. When I was at school it was never mentioned (section 28).

MrsMikeHeck · 09/03/2023 04:35

Mutabiliss · 09/03/2023 04:29

Did you really think Mumsnet would agree with you, OP? I can't imagine why you have a problem with IWD celebrating a woman, regardless of her sexuality or religion.

It's lovely that gay children grow up knowing there are people like them now. When I was at school it was never mentioned (section 28).

I can’t imagine many other spaces, online or in RL, where OP’s views would be more warmly received. And while the majority of posters disagree, the actual vote is nearer 50/50. No doubt it will swing towards OPs favour as the day goes on. While the OPs posts are hugely problematic, the support she will find here is far more depressing.

fairywhale · 09/03/2023 05:09

Threemangoes · 09/03/2023 01:31

But that's exactly what I have said. School has missed an opportunity here. I did not say at any point that lgbt history month and pride should be cancelled.

As typical on mumsnet, many have jumped on opportunity to air their wokery and accuse you of all sorts of things including white privilege even though you aren't white and for all we know could be of a Muslim background yourself.
Think in part they do it to feel a bit good about themselves since in real life they are almost always the ones to avoid other races, nationalities, classes, abilities and opinions and generally being different to themselves. They usually most intolerant.

Prescottdanni123 · 09/03/2023 05:13

As someone who left primary school 18 years ago and never received a single lesson on LGBT community, I think it is very good. The more we hammer the fact the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion into young children, the better. The future looks much brighter that way.

And to the posters who assume OP is either Christian or wanted a Christian woman represented, I am also a Christian. I do not believe that being gay/bi etc is wrong in the slightest, because the bible was written along time ago and societal views had an impact. Nor do I have a problem with Muslims or people from any other religion, or atheists.

GoodChat · 09/03/2023 05:18

OP who did they focus on?
Was it just this one woman?

OneMorePlant · 09/03/2023 05:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Noicant · 09/03/2023 05:24

I kinda get what you are saying, the centering of LGBT issues above and beyond issues that all women face or that are broader societal problems for women. Do you feel like she was chosen specifically because of her LGBT activism?

Simonjt · 09/03/2023 05:26

Its a good job they didn’t pick a black woman as they have a whole month as well.

OP if you think the above is racist, you’re a hypocrit, if you don’t, well we already know what you are.

Foreversearch · 09/03/2023 06:03

The op is not that far out with her percentages, 1.5% of England and Wales identify as Lesbian or Gay with a total of 3.2% identifying as LGBT+.

What the OP is trying to say is that the 1.5% Muslim women who are Lesbians have the opportunity to be celebrated for 2 months each year in LGBT+ and Pride months why on IWD could the school not have looked at one of the other barriers affecting a far higher % of Muslim women e.g. forced marriage, being excluded from education in Afghanistan, losing their lives for breaking the hijab law etc.

GoodChat · 09/03/2023 06:05

Simonjt · 09/03/2023 05:26

Its a good job they didn’t pick a black woman as they have a whole month as well.

OP if you think the above is racist, you’re a hypocrit, if you don’t, well we already know what you are.

Do you mean like... black history month?

Simonjt · 09/03/2023 06:05

Foreversearch · 09/03/2023 06:03

The op is not that far out with her percentages, 1.5% of England and Wales identify as Lesbian or Gay with a total of 3.2% identifying as LGBT+.

What the OP is trying to say is that the 1.5% Muslim women who are Lesbians have the opportunity to be celebrated for 2 months each year in LGBT+ and Pride months why on IWD could the school not have looked at one of the other barriers affecting a far higher % of Muslim women e.g. forced marriage, being excluded from education in Afghanistan, losing their lives for breaking the hijab law etc.

Ah yes, because gay muslim women in Afghanistan have access to education, don’t have to wear the chador, and never experience forced marriage.

Foreversearch · 09/03/2023 06:14

Simonjt · 09/03/2023 06:05

Ah yes, because gay muslim women in Afghanistan have access to education, don’t have to wear the chador, and never experience forced marriage.

Show quote history

@Simonjt nice way to twist my words and the use of gay rather than lesbian.

Focusing on Muslim women’s access to education, ability to chose the clothes they wear and forced marriage includes both lesbian and heterosexual muslim women. Focusing on lesbian Muslim women excludes heterosexual Muslim women.

Mummyoflittledragon · 09/03/2023 06:18

Op said I’m not white. I’m not Christian.

Foreversearch · 09/03/2023 06:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

HaveTheDayOff · 09/03/2023 06:27

Racist and homophobic!

EmpressaurusOfCats · 09/03/2023 06:39

When you said LGBT (horrible acronym - being LGB has nothing to do with being T) I thought this ‘woman’ was going to be a bloke identifying as female. Be relieved that she was an actual woman.

Simonjt · 09/03/2023 06:47

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

The OPs type would have certainly mentioned that, they’d be horried that the person they focused on covered three minority groups, rather than two.

Foreversearch · 09/03/2023 07:02

@Simonjt the op is not white.